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'Liverpool Adam Lallana Set for Immediate Quick Recovery'

Publish 07-09-2017 by Yayo         

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Adam Lallana in action during the Premier League game between Everton and Liverpool on December 

Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana has revealed that he is making good progress in his recovery from injury.

The 29-year-old has not featured in a competitive match so far this season having picked up a thigh injury in the Audi Cup final against Atletico Madrid at the beginning of August.

No return date has yet been set for the England international, who is expected to be sidelined for two months, but Lallana is desperate to be back involved with the team as quickly as possible.

"I'm getting on well – slowly but surely in the background. It's great to see the lads start so well, we've been playing some brilliant football. It has been great to be at Anfield for a couple of those games as well, and the Champions League game," he told the club's official website.

"I don't like staying away from it, I quite like being in the mix and involved in the games, especially the home games. I'll be at the City game at the weekend – I'm looking forward to that.

"I'm well into the way on my rehab now and it's going as well as it can. I'm obviously looking forward to being back."

Liverpool are back in action on Saturday when they take on Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

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MOHAMED SALAH AND SADIO MANÉ CAN BECOME LIVERPOOL’S NEW DYNAMIC DUO IN JÜRGEN KLOPP’S COUNTER-PRESSING SYSTEM

 |  August 3, 2017 |  

Whether pre-season or not, Liverpool versus Bayern Munich had many factors to get excited over – though I don’t think I’m alone in saying that Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah being named together in the starting eleven for the first time was easily top of that list.

I was rubbing my hands with premeditated delight – what followed somehow exceeded my already overly biased expectations.

As the game unfolded and we clinically tore the German champions apart with lightening fast counter-attacks – a key fact dawned on me. This is their first game together – yet they’re looking almost telepathic together. As dangerous as each other. As fast as each other. As direct, uncontrollable, uncontainable as each other.

Perhaps I’m slightly over-excited, but nevertheless a defence as experienced as Bayern’s looking completely dumbfounded and bewildered at the raw pace and goal-threat was a thing of beauty.

It got me thinking of all the past duos that have formed over the years: Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush; Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez; Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres; Michael Owen and Emile Heskey; Roger Hunt and Ian St John; Robbie Fowler and Stan Collymore; Kevin Keegan and John Toshack.

Liverpool have been blessed with some truly wonderful combinations over the years and I’m not suggesting that this newly found partnership will indefinitely reach the high standards that have been set by their predecessors – well, not overnight anyway. Neither are strikers, neither are known purely for their goal per game ratio, but for some reason I’ve led myself to believe that mirroring each other on either flank, their impact alone could be just as devastating as any partnership currently in the Premier League.

However I think this time it’ll differ slightly to those in the past, rather than two strikers/attackers linking up to supply all the goals – I think it’ll be more a case of joint-involvement, inventive play and directness.

Not saying that they won’t contribute themselves, of course I think you could genuinely make a case that either has the potential of being Liverpool’s top goal-scorer in the season ahead. (I honestly think it’ll be one or the other). It’s more a premonition of the two of them loading the gun, but with multiple players pulling the trigger.

Although I’m basing this on a single performance alone – the system we played (against Bayern) is tailor-made for the pairing of Salah and Mané to thrive in. Sit deep, be calm out of possession, hold your position to keep compact, then spring fast, efficient attacks. Everyone benefits from it.


Salah and Mané play to their strengths by sitting on the shoulder of full-backs, ready to pounce; Firmino does what he does best by tinkering away, dropping deeper to drag the centre-backs out of position (or at least out of catching distance of the wingers) and leaving space for overlapping attacking-midfielders.

Meanwhile the wide-men keep the full-backs/opposing wingers obtained due to their explosive acceleration, even when off the ball – a simple decoy run is enough to stretch the space for others.

By others I’m talking about Coutinho – a player that can do magical things in the smallest of gaps, let alone with space in-front of him or players running into unmarked areas. The luxury of having

Coutinho in midfield is he’ll take full advantage of our relentless counter-pressing, by effortlessly releasing quick penetrating balls, catching the other team in an offensive stance rather than defensive. Along with Emre Can, Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum that could all play the double pivot role for extra cover.

   
Sounds very philosophical – but if implemented like the Bayern game on a consistent level, then the out-score everybody attitude (not that we won’t score loads) could soon become a distant memory. The obvious example is Leicester in 2015-16, they played this to perfection – it was obvious, yet unstoppable. They only conceded thirty-six goals all season in that title winning campaign.

They’d steal momentum within the blink of an eye – a sloppy pass is all it took, or too many touches and it’s game over. They didn’t have the best defence, but their tactics were best suited to help the defence.

Look at the personnel we’ve got in this team, look at the pace, look at the skill – we could be just as effective. We could become unstoppable – we’re that close.

It’s ideal for Champions League fixtures – very defensive without the ball, be strong in possession and spring attacks. Nothing we’ve not seen before – typical Rafa Benitez/Gérard Houllier. Remember the only British team to win in Kiev; the only English team to win on Catalan soil.

Okay there was some strong characters and steely operators in those teams – and it’s unfair to compare. I’m not comparing teams but to emulate the shrewd tactics would be genius. It’s very defensive minded but still with attacking intent – the opposite to Jürgen Klopp.

I don’t think so, he’s a lot more tactically astute than people give him credit for. We’ve already seen a very similar method used – against Chelsea away last season. We got our goal and we frustrated the life out of future champions and restricted them in their own back-yard, then pinned them into submission with a second. In my eyes, that game was as glorious as thrashing someone five/six-nil.

Don’t get me wrong – we’ll be as fast and furious as anyone but with a bit more brain behind the brawn. Also with the knowledge that if opponents sit back, they’ll still get punished and if you come at us – be afraid, be very afraid.

Sadio Mané was our joint top goal-scorer with thirteen goals and five assists last season despite going to the Africa Cup of Nations and getting injured – resulting in him only playing twenty-seven games. Mohamed Salah was the second top-scorer for Roma with fifteen goals and eleven assists and like Mané, also missed games due to Egypt’s AFCON duties, playing in thirty-one games for the Italian club.

Of course there’s many ifs and buts – different league, different players, different pace, different everything. Though in less than one hour they set my senses alight, both scoring and both showing the flair, fluidity and concentration to counter with such calculated precision


For me personally, I look at their output last season (regardless of where they played) and wonder if maybe this pair can be our thirty-goal-a-season difference maker. They’re a match made in heaven – and we’re about to reap the rewards.

There’s an unwritten rule that you can’t win the league without an out-and-out, twenty-goals-a-season striker, well, we’re Liverpool Football Club, we don’t follow the rules – we create them. Setting trends since 1892.

Surely that’s what football’s all about – creating optimism, excitement, dreams and belief.

Salah and Sadio – Liverpool’s next deadly duo? The new S.A.S? Don’t be surprised.

Up the Reds.

                                        ........This is Anfield

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Virgil van Dijk continues standoff with Southampton to get Liverpool move

Virgil van Dijk has continued his standoff with Southampton as the Dutchman looks to move away from the south coast club this summer.

Adam Leitch of the Daily Echo reports that Southampton were hopeful that van Dijk would accept the club’s decision not to sell him and reintegrate him with his teammates upon their return to training in England after a camp in France.

However, the Dutchman has told Saints that he has not had a change of heart, “leading the club to inform him that they are also standing firm.”

With just 10 days to go until Southampton’s first Premier League game of the season against Swansea, Pellegrino has a real dilemma on his hands.

He now needs to prepare for the first game of the season, and perhaps more, with the knowledge that his captain and best player won’t be available.

Van Dijk is giving no indication that he is going to back down but then again, neither are Southampton who are just as determined to keep the Dutchman as he is to leave the club.



Although he still has five years remaining of a six-year contract, van Dijk is desperate to leave the club. Adam Leitch writes, “At this stage, neither side appears to be sure exactly how this will play out.”

It’s a tricky situation for all parties involved, Liverpool included. As much as the Reds have been painted as the villains in this scenario after their ‘tapping up’ antics, the Anfield outfit are heading into the new season without having bought a new centre-half and their pursuit of van Dijk is an extremely risky one.

Although Saints are determined to hold onto van Dijk, the situation doesn’t look promising for them. With their captain on strike a week and a half away from the new season, it’s certainly a situation most managers would prefer to avoid.

On the matter, Leitch writes, “they [Southampton] have an asset worth £60m or more, who is probably also the best player in the squad, effectively doing nothing of any constructive use to them, and all the while how it affects spirit in the dressing room remains a key concern for Pellegrino.”


With the month of August underway and the Premier League season creeping ominously close for both Liverpool and Southampton, it will be an interesting saga to watch unravel for the neutral to see where van Dijk lands up.

In all honesty, my best bet would be that van Dijk will end up at Liverpool unless he has a change of heart which seems wholly unlikely.

On that note, if van Dijk continues refusing to train and play for Southampton, Pellegrino may be left with no choice but to sell the player or let him rot in the reserves and for a business-savvy club like Southampton, that’s not an option.

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Daniel Sturridge provides positive injury update and explains Bayern Munich goal

2 August 2017

Daniel Sturridge believes the thigh injury he picked up scoring in Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Bayern Munich on Tuesday “will be OK” despite initial fears.


The 27-year-old was forced off the field with four minutes to play at the Allianz Arena, shortly after netting the Reds’ third of the night.

Adding to first-half strikes from Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, Sturridge sealed his first goal of pre-season, after returning in excellent shape from a summer in Los Angeles.

Speaking to reporters after the game Jurgen Klopp cast a doubtful view over Sturridge’s withdrawal, simply saying: “I hope that it’s nothing serious.”

Shortly after, however, Sturridge cut a more positive figure when discussing his fitness, explaining he is “feeling great.”

“I put in the work; I trained a lot in the summer in LA and I’ve not missed many sessions here,” he told LiverpoolFC.com.

“We’ve done triple sessions. I’ve pretty much trained every single session.

“I’m feeling the best I’ve felt for a while. I’m looking forward to the season.

“And hopefully we can have some success this season as well.”



Sturridge’s strike, an impudent chip over the onrushing Sven Ulreich, was reminiscent of his best in a Liverpool shirt, and is hugely encouraging ahead of the 2017/18 campaign.

Now looking likely to stay on Merseyside despite previous interest from West Ham United and Paris Saint-Germain, the No. 15 can provide Klopp with an invaluable attacking option.

And as he reflected on his goal at the Allianz, and a missed opportunity minutes earlier, Sturridge served up a reminder of the instinctive talent the Reds possess up front.

“The first time I was running through, I wanted to do that but he didn’t come out,” he explained.

“I was watching from the sidelines and I remember Mo [Salah] went running through on goal and the ‘keeper went down really early.

“So before I even came on I was thinking if I run through and I’m central, I’ll try to chip him because he goes down quite quickly.

“He didn’t actually go down! So it went against my plan but it worked anyway.”

There are few players in Klopp’s squad who can score a goal like Sturridge’s in Munich, and preserving his fitness will be a big boost for the upcoming campaign.

It is likely he will sit out of Wednesday’s Audi Cup ‘final’ clash with Atletico Madrid, but Klopp will be hoping to usher him back in soon after.

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Liverpool FC: Can the Reds win the league title this season?

publish 01- 07-2017

It has been twenty seven years since Liverpool last lifted the First Division title in the English top flight.

Since the glory days under Kenny Dalglish, Liverpool have taken a back seat and watched a dominant Manchester United winning countless titles in the reformed Premier League.

Although Liverpool challenged on a rare occasion, they have been left behind by the likes of Arsenal, who challenged United in the late 90s, early 00s, while financially backed Chelsea and Manchester City have opposed the old guard in the last decade.

However, with the arrival of Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool have re-emerged and look to pose a threat for the up and coming season. The question is though, is it finally Liverpool’s year for league glory?

A manager that can deliver

When Klopp arrived in October 2015, Liverpool fans rejoiced that they captured a man, capable of bringing the title back to Anfield.

Although his predecessor, Brendan Rodgers was inches of accomplishing this feat two seasons prior, Liverpool receded the following campaign and struggled to match the high standards from the 13/14 season. But with Klopp arriving on the scene, there is a sense of excitement for the future.

From his time at Borussia Dortmund, Klopp achieved back to back Bundesliga titles, a German cup and reached the Champions League final in 2013. This was seen as more impressive as Dortmund struggled financially throughout the mid-00s.

However, with Klopp’s shrewd transfer business and developing youth, Dortmund were able to form a collective team, who challenged Bayern Munich for the German crown.

Although Klopp ended his first season with two cup final defeats (League Cup and Europa League), it signified times were improving. He followed this up by finishing fourth the next season, which brought Liverpool back to the premiere of European football, the Champions League.

Now preparing for his second full season, Klopp has the experience of what to expect to win the Premier League.

A capable squad?

To be capable of winning the league, a team requires skilled and experienced players, who can manage the overwhelming pressure of consistency and ruthlessness in games throughout an extensive season.

For Liverpool, they do contain players with these attributes. One notable member is James Milner. Although not the most exciting player in the team, he is the most consistent, hardworking and probably the most underrated due to his performances going under the radar.

From his time at Manchester City, Milner has won two Premier League titles before departing to Anfield in the summer of 2015. His experience around the camp can energise the players to push for the title.

In midfield, Liverpool have Jordan Henderson and Emre Can to call upon.



Henderson has taking over the captain’s armband since Steven Gerrard’s departure in 2015 and has been consistent ever since. He made 3.7 tackles per game while having a passing success rate of 86%.

Emre Can on the other hand, provides stability in midfield, while posing an attacking threat, scoring 5 goals and providing 2 assists last season. His performances has him linked with a move to Juventus but Liverpool expect him to sign a new contract as they believe he is crucial for them going forward.

From the attacking perspective, Philippe Coutinho is another player that can make a difference.

Although linked with a summer move to Barcelona, Liverpool and Klopp expects Coutinho to stay as he would be a huge loss for Liverpool’s title ambition. Although, Coutinho does not have any league winner medals in his cabinet, he does attain the skills and qualities to push Liverpool to the next stage.

Coutinho ended last season with 13 league goals and contributed 7 assists, which accumulated over a quarter of Liverpool’s goals (69). A player of Coutinho’s stature would benefit any team in their charge for a title.



Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane are two other players capable of making a difference. Both scored double figures last season (13 and 11 respectively), while Mane was awarded Liverpool’s player of the season for his efforts.

Additionally, both players can either play on the wing or as forward, which allow player flexibility in terms of team formation. With the addition of Mohammad Salah from Roma, stiff competition will emerge next season between Coutinho, Firmino, Mane and Salah, which provides Klopp with more depth for his team, something he lacked last year due to injuries.

A new striker required?

With Liverpool linked with players in defence and midfield, they have not being actively looking for a new centre forward.

Although the media claimed they enquired for Kylian Mbappe and snapped up Dominic Solanke from Chelsea, Liverpool have not made a claim for a world class forward.

They do boast the likes of Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi in their ranks but the former has been on the treatment table for the last couple of seasons, whereas the latter has been in and out of the starting line-up, contributing 10 team goals (7 scored, 3 assists) last season.

This suggests Liverpool are lacking an all-out striker, who can hit the regular heights of 20 plus goals a season. With Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United bolstering their attack with expensive forwards, it does ask, do Liverpool require a stellar new striker of their own?

Lack of financial muscle?

With the likes of Manchester City, United and Chelsea spending over 100 million pounds each this season in attempt to win the league, one must ask will Liverpool miss out due to  their minimal spending.

Granted, Klopp is not known for spending excessively on players and rather develop youth or unknown players. Furthermore, the owners of Liverpool have splash the cash from time to time but in terms of their rivals, it has been minuscule.

Though they have brought in Salah for over 35 million pounds, it has been their only major expensive signing, with the likes of City, United and Chelsea spending that amount regularly on new squad players.



Although money does not always speak (Leicester City in 2016), one must ask themselves, can Liverpool deliver without spending excessively?

Verdict

From the gathered facts and findings, Liverpool’s chances of landing the title this season can be seen as 50/50.

From the positives, they have a world renowned manager, who is capable of upsetting the odds to land the title. Furthermore, Liverpool do have players in their ranks such Coutinho, Mane, Can and Firmino, who can influence Liverpool’s style of play and push them up the league table.

However, there are issues they need to address. One has been a lack of a recognised striker.

Although Origi has had an respectful season and is still only 22, Liverpool either need him to be firing from all cylinders from the word go or face the prospect of not having an all-out striker, who can score at will and can change the tide of games when needs be.

Moreover, Liverpool have spent less than their title rivals and although that does not necessary mean the title is already lost, it does entail that Liverpool’s rivals have a more in depth squad, something that was an issue for the reds last season.

                                                       This is Anfield......

Liverpool ramp up Virgil van Dijk transfer: Southampton begin negotiations for replacement

LIVERPOOL have reportedly ramped up their efforts to sign Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk.


PUBLISHED: 19:03, Mon, Jul 31, 2017 | UPDATED: 19:59, Mon, Jul 31, 2017

Liverpool have been linked with a move for Virgil van Dijk for weeks but a deal is yet to materialise.

Saints had accused the Anfield club of tapping up the Dutchman which seemed to have stalled the move.

However, The Daily Mail claim the transfer is still very much on the


cards and the Reds have upped their efforts to sign the 26-year-old.

And the report says Southampton are preparing for Van Dijk's imminent departure by beginning negotiations with Lazio for Wesley Hoedt.


Mauricio Pellegrino's side are said to be weighing up a £12million move for the 23-year-old centre-half.


Van Dijk, meanwhile, has been working alone at Southampton's Staplewood training base after telling the club he wants to leave.


The Holland international remained in the UK while the rest of the Saints squad flew to France for a pre-season trip.


Speaking last week about the Van Dijk saga, Liverpool legend John Aldridge claimed he expected the deal to go through

"Southampton know Van Dijk is unhappy, Liverpool want him so it seems Van Dijk will move," he told the Independent.


"Jurgen Klopp knows what he wants and he wants quality, there's no point in signing peripheral players just for appearances.


"You need to sign players who have that x-factor and Van Dijk has that. He's one of the best centre halves in the Premier League."


Van Dijk is under contract at St Mary's until June 2022 and made 30 appearances last term in all competitions, scoring four goals

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Virgil van Dijk Should Be A Priority Target For Liverpool

• publish in 2017-22-07..

Liverpool have spent close to £100 million on Southampton players in the past few years, so suggesting that they need to buy another might sound absurd…

But having come away with just a point from their trip to St Mary’s on Saturday, there’s another player who’s been impressing for The Saints who would add another key piece to Jurgen Klopp’s increasingly impressive looking puzzle — Dutch centre back, Virgil Van Dijk.

Liverpool should have signed Van Dijk from Celtic, just as they should have signed Sadio Mane from Red Bull Salzburg. Both players were on the transfer committee’s radar prior to moving to the Premier League, but the club preferred to bide their time. In a competitive market where TV money flows like wine at a wedding, biding time invariably costs money.

Under Klopp, however, things have changed. The transfer committee still exist (all clubs have them but Liverpool decided to give theirs a name), but Klopp now uses his own eyes as well as recommendations from his coaching staff before going to the scouts and analysts for the all-important data.

Recruitment at Liverpool is now a harmonious two-way street, rather than a battle between manager and transfer committee as it was under Brendan Rodgers.


Even at a cost of £30m, Mane looks like a bargain (even though it took the club a while to take the plunge), while getting centre back Joel Matip on a free transfer could turn out to be the best bit of business this season. The problem Liverpool face now is that there’s no one of quality to play alongside Matip, despite the best efforts of an improved Dejan Lovren. Mamadou Sakho has been banished to the U23 squad following his supposedly disruptive antics in pre-season, Ragnar Klavan is seen as a backup player, and though Joe Gomez could emerge as a star in the position further down the line, his rise has been delayed by a serious knee injury.

The left side of Liverpool’s defence is the area of the team which needs patching up, and placing Van Dijk in the spot next to Matip would create one of the best defensive pairings in the Premier League. Both possess the physicality to compete in a league which still provides a test of strength and courage despite changes in the playing styles of many teams during the past decade.

They stand at over 190 cm, or six foot two in old money, making them useful in the air in both boxes and at set pieces.

Van Dijk showed on Saturday that he’s also quick across the ground, keeping pace with the considerable speed of Mane to put in a highlight-reel tackle when the Senegalese managed to break through the defensive line.

The obligatory good feet for a big man is in evidence too, and the Dutch international has also played over 30 games in European competition. With Liverpool likely to qualify for at least the Europa League next season, this experience will be handy. At the age of 25, Van Dijk is reaching is peak years as a centre back, and if Liverpool don’t snap him up soon, someone else will. He’s had a good overall understanding of the game since his days as a youth at FC Groningen, and this has stood him in good stead as he worked in improving his fitness, strength, and stamina.

The extra application away from the pitch is one of the main factors behind him ending up in the Premier League, as defenders who are knocked off the ball easily can find the going tough against some of the more robust strikers the league has to offer. It will be an advantage at international level too, where versatility can be key due to the varying strengths and styles of the opponents. He has 12 caps to his name, which may not seem like many for a 25-year-old who’s always showed great promise, but the perennially underachieving Dutch side will stand a better chance of winning a tournament with the Breda born defender keeping the opposition at bay.

This combination of professionalism, defensive nous, and footballing ability could see Van Dijk reach the very top of the game, and Liverpool will hope he can board the Klopp revolution to achieve this with them. If he can’t, then it wouldn’t be a surprise to see one of the Spanish giants come knocking on his agent’s door at some point in the near future.

If Liverpool are to complete Klopp’s puzzle, or at least add a piece which fits more snugly than the ones they currently have, then a move for Van Dijk, sooner rather than later, is a must.


QUESTION:  
                    Who wants to see him at anfield this season?